Favorite Books of 2023 and a GIVEAWAY!!

It’s time for my favorite post of the year! I’ve gathered all the best books from 2023 in one place for you. These books would make great gifts for the readers in your life! (links are affiliate)

To enter the giveaway, comment below or on social media with the book you’d love to read. You’ll be entered in a drawing to receive that book! Giveaway closes at midnight on Sunday, December 17, 2023.

Best Nonfiction

• I’m Glad My Mom Died: Okay, so the title is terrible, but this memoir reveals an in-depth look at the devastation of childhood stardom. There are some graphic parts – just skip through those if you need to – but the honesty of the author was heartbreakingly stunning.
• Don’t Hold Back: Author David Platt offers his thoughts and a call to the American church to live out the gospel.
• Draw the Circle: Mark Batterson is a pastor in Washington, DC, and is well-known for his book, The Circle Maker. Draw the Circle is a challenging devotional about how to pray bold prayers.
• Women Who Risk: This beautiful book shares stories of Muslim women who experience Jesus in amazing ways, through dreams and even in person. God is at work around the world, and this book is an encouragement for us to continue praying for the Muslim community.
• The Intentional Father: I read this book after hearing the author talk about it on a podcast. The book is a guide for fathers who are wanting to lead their sons through adolescence and into adulthood. There is a lot of practical advice as well as encouraging takeaways. If you have a son reaching his teen years, this would be a great book to dive into.
• Resilient: John Eldredge is one of my favorite authors! Throughout the book, Eldredge helps us as we seek to restore our weary souls, especially after the trauma of the pandemic.
• Bittersweet: This was a beautifully written memoir by one of my favorite authors and speakers. I love her word choices and phrasing. If you’re a lover of words, I think you’ll like this book.

Best Historical Fiction

• Mark of the Lion Series: This series, set in the time of the Roman empire, was captivating on so many levels. In school, you’re taught about the Roman empire, but never from a personal point of view. These books show characters such as gladiators, slaves, the elite – and you begin to cheer for them, feel for them, mourn with them. Another thing I never realized was that this time period basically coincided with Christ and His disciples. I learned so much about history that I’d never connected before. A Voice in the Wind is the first book, followed by An Echo in the Darkness, and it wraps up with As Sure as the Dawn.
• The Book of Lost Names: Set in World War II, a group of forgers help children escape from the grip of the Nazis. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking tale of love and sacrifice.
• The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek: This was such a great read and I found myself thinking about this book for weeks after I finished it. I kept digging into and researching the Blue Kentucky people which this story is based on – fascinating stuff if you want to check it out!
• Booth: This book is the story of John Wilkes Booth’s family and his childhood years. I wasn’t sure I would love it but I did. If you like history, I think you’ll love it too!

Best Fiction

• Night Road: A book about family and tragedy and forgiveness
• The Measure: thought-provoking. What if everyone received a box with a string and the string was the length of life you had left? Would you live differently?
• Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: A story of friendship based around the development of video games (which isn’t usually my cup of tea). Beautifully written.
• All That’s Left Unsaid: set in a Vietnamese community in Australia, the main character’s brother has been killed and she can’t understand why her parents aren’t badgering the police for information. A story of prejudices, drugs, and the fear that first-generation immigrants experience.
• The Henna Artist: I will read pretty much any book set in India just so I can better understand Jillienne’s culture. This took a hot minute to get into, but I ended up loving it.
• The Lions of Fifth Avenue: Another book which alternates between the past and present. The story centers around a family and a rare book theft.
• The Paris Daughter: Set in WWII, this story follows two women and the sacrifices they made during the war. Beautiful and heartbreaking. (This seems to be a theme in my reading for 2023.)
• Happy Place: Emily Henry’s newest book – a great story of friendship!
• The No-Show: set on Valentine’s Day and follows 3 women who were stood up. This book was excellent – if you find yourself getting frustrated, just keep reading!

And now… My TOP FIVE FAVORITE BOOKS of 2023! 

• This was by far one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. Beth Moore is a favorite Bible teacher so I couldn’t wait to devour her memoir, and let me just say – it did not disappoint. I laughed and cried throughout the book. It’s a beautiful look at difficulties and love and the power of Jesus.

• A sad yet hopeful story following a young rock star who loses her mom and the relationship she must repair with her father. So good!

• This was the first book I read in 2023 and it is still a favorite!

• This was a definite fave! A sweet story of friendship with unexpected twists.

• A book I can’t stop thinking about! Set during Covid, a woman goes on vacation while her boyfriend stays behind in New York to work as a physician, and what happens next leaves you questioning everything.

 

Don’t forget to leave a comment with the book you’d like to read! I hope you find lots of great options on this list!

Happy Reading!